As of March 31, Southern Alberta patients suffering from non-cancer-related lymphedema, a progressive, non-curable lymphatic disorder resulting in one or more grossly swollen limbs and associated medical complications, will no longer have treatment services available in the city of Calgary or its surrounds.

Calgary Lymphedema Rehabilitation and Consulting Services Inc., a private clinic, has been the sole provider of treatment services for Southern Alberta lymphedema patients, regardless of cause.

Because more than 90 per cent of the clinic's patients have cancer-caused lymphedema, the drastic loss of patients to the new in-house program at Tom Baker means Calgary Lymphedema Rehabilitation and Consulting Services is no longer viable.

Patients who have "primary" lymphedema (born with it), or "secondary" lymphedema not caused by cancer (causes include injury, infection, diseases other than cancer, and Filariasis from a tropical mosquito bite) are not eligible for treatment at the new Tom Baker clinic - even though it will have the only trained lymphedema practitioners in Calgary.

Lymphedema is a progressive, disfiguring and debilitative disorder. Uncontrolled lymphedema can lead to cellulitis and septicemia, fast-moving infections requiring I.V. antibiotics and costly hospital stays. Patients can lose their infected limb(s) or worse. Without treatment to reduce volume, the buildup of lymph fluid continues to expand the limb (elephantiasis).

It is the responsibility of Alberta Health Services to ensure non-cancer lymphedema patients have access to a specialized clinic to assess, treat, and manage their condition, as well as to provide fair and equitable treatment for all lymphedema sufferers.

A secondary issue is funding. Treatment for non-cancer patients is not covered. However, the Alberta Cancer Board (now part of the new Alberta Health Services) covers treatment for cancer patients.

Prior to November 2006, treatment for Southern Alberta cancer patients was not covered either. However, following revelations that Edmonton cancer patients received publicly funded in-house lymphedema treatment, Southern Alberta's cancer patients also received funding. Services were contracted to Calgary Lymphedema Rehabilitation.

In 2006, the Alberta Lymphedema Association gathered signatures on a petition requesting Alberta Health Care coverage for all lymphedema sufferers. The petition was tabled in the Alberta Legislature August 30, 2006, and still has not been brought forward to the floor.

The continued non-funding for non-cancer lymphedema treatment is inequitable. This disease is the same regardless of cause, and treatment is neither optional nor cosmetic.

That is exactly what is going to happen under obamacare. Obama has been very clear in his speeches about who will merit treatment undera government run healthcare system. You just to listen to his answers to questions. I'll have to look for the speech but earlier this summer he responded to a question about medical care for a non-curable illness and his response was essentially that what will end up getting covered are things that make you healthier. Remember also he responded to a question on the ABC health show from the White House that sometimes it is better to just take a pain pill than to say have surgical treatment (referencing a procedure that was done on an elderly woman). I've read the house bill that had people up at arms in August and I have alot of concerns about how I would fare under Obamacare. Right now I have private health insurance but if under the healthcare bill it would be cheaper for my employer to drop private health insurance and just pay a fine (which it will be), my employer would do that as would most, especially in this economy where the bottom line is what matters. Lymphedema is mostly a maintenance condition rather than a treatable/curable one. With Obama's words about not having to pay for things that don't make you healthier. Sounds to me like he is talking about not covering maintenance issues or end of life issues because those are two areas where any medical care you get doesn't make you "healthier" just helps you get by.

This is hard for me to say since I am by nature such an activist, but I'm not sure putting in a debate here about Obama's plan is going to benefit anyone - probably would cause some horrendous fights. Trust me, I have very very strong feelings about this too, but this just isn't the place for a debate.

Here, let's focus on what we can do in advocating for lymphedema, lipedema and our other conditions shown.